Zheng Xie

Herbaceous peony viewing pavilion with Zheng Xie calligraphed horizontal board in Thin West Lake of Yangzhou

Zheng Xie (simplified Chinese: 郑燮; traditional Chinese: 鄭燮; pinyin: Zhèng Xiè) (1693–1765), commonly known as Zheng Banqiao (simplified Chinese: 郑板桥; traditional Chinese: 鄭板橋; pinyin: Zhèng Bǎnqiáo) was a Chinese painter from Jiangsu. He began life in poverty, but rose in the exam system to become a magistrate at Shandong. However, after 12 years, he became critical of the life of an official as he refused to ingratiate himself with senior officials. When he was reportedly criticized for building a shelter for the poor, he resigned. After that, he expressed himself in art and became one of the Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou. He was noted for his drawing of orchids, bamboo, and stones. In 1748 he briefly resumed an official career as "official calligrapher and painter" for the Qianlong Emperor.

Zheng was also a calligrapher who created a new calligraphy style influenced by his orchid drawings. Added to this, he had an interest in literature and poetry. He preferred to write about ordinary people in a natural style.

Orchids, Bamboo and Rocks, hand scroll by Zheng Xie, 1762, Shanghai Museum

Calligraphical work of Zheng Xie, now collected in Shandong Museum

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zheng Xie.

• Zheng Xie and his Painting Gallery at China Online Museum
• China Culture on Zheng Xie
• Zheng Xie's works at China Page
• Zhang Xie in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum, New York
• Translation of “Letter to younger brother Zhèng Mò” by Zhèng Bǎnqiáo